TNAG-1256-FCO40-1589-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 108

PP UKREP BRUSSELS

CONFIDENTIAL

TOPOCKY

MKKogols

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

2511983

26454

GRS 208

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 211540Z OCT 83

TO PRIORITY UKREP BRUSSELS

INDEX

TELEGRAM NUMBER 552 OF 24 OCTOBER

INFO ROUTINE PEKING HONG KONG

FOR POWELL

Aus Prest

REGISTRY

Action Taken

FUTURE OF HONG KONG VISIT TO CHINA BY GASTON THORN PRESIDENT

OUR TELNO 706, PEKING TELNO 1965 AND HONG KONG TELNO

(44) OF THE EC

1565439)

(438)

1. MIFT CONTAINS BACKGROUND BRIEFING FOR M THORN ON THE FUTURE

OF HONG KONG, OUR TALKS WITH THE CHINESE AND CONFIDENCE IN

HONG KONG. GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD ARRANGE FOR A SENIOR MEMBER OF

HIS CABINET TO BE BRIEFED, STRESSING CONFIDENTIALITY. ADDITIONAL

BACKGROUND INCLUDING HISTORICAL POINTS IS IN

2.

GUIDANCE TELNOS 192 OF 20 OCTOBER 1982 AND 083 OF 8 JULY 1983.

M THORN MAY COME UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE MEDIA IN CHINA AND

HONG KONG TO COMMENT ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE. GRATEFUL FOR HIS

HELP IN MAINTAINING CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG AND SAYING NOTHING

THAT COULD DAMAGE IT. THE KEY POINT TO STRESS IS THAT

CONFIDENTIAL TALKS ARE TAKING PLACE AND THIS IS WHAT COUNTS.

3. THERE ARE NO PARTICULAR POINTS WHICH WE WOULD ASK

M THORN TO CONSIDER MAKING TO THE CHINESE ON HONG KONG IF THE

CHINESE RAISE THE SUBJECT WE SEE NO HARM IN HIM MAKING THE POINT

IN PARA 1 OF HONG KONG TUR. BUT WE SHOULD NOT (NOT) WANT TO GIVE

THE IMPRESSIONS TO THE CHINESE THAT WE WERE ENLISTING M. THORN'S

AID ON OUR BEHALF.

HOWE

FUTURE OF HONG HONG

LIMITED

-

1

FED

ED/FLAMMING STAFF

D/PUSD

D/E/FUSD (MR FLOWER)

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER )

LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR)

HD ECD(E) PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE -

PS/FUS

SIR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD MR WRIGHT

COPIES TO: MR BURROW

MA ROBERES MR. MARTIN

MIR COLES

LEGAL ADVISERS -

NEWS DEPT ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFICE

SI

No 10 DOWNING 53

SIE PARSONS

MR GOODALI CABINET OFFICE

SIA PEILIG MOORE

BUCKINGHAM

PALACE.

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE CORON

PS/ECME SECRETARY

FS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/ S OF S FCR DEFENCE

FS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

FS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND

PS/LETORNEY GENERAL

CONFIDENTIAL

INDUSTRY

45)